Who Is This £300,000 Rated Midfielder That Leeds Are Chasing? Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Scout Report – Toni Villa

According to reports from Spain, Leeds United are interested in signing midfielder Toni Villa from second division side Real Valladolid. Spanish outlet Pucela Fichajes reports that the Whites are looking to sign the 22-year old playmaker and then loan him out to Cultural Leonesa – another Spanish second division club.

Villa is valued at £300,000 by Valladolid, and if Leeds are willing to meet the valuation the club will most likely sell the player. Let’s take a closer look at who exactly Toni Villa is and what will Leeds be getting on their hands if they sign him.

Footballing Background

Born in Murcia, Spain, on 7 January 1995, Villa joined the Real Valladolid academy at a very young age. Having put through the paces at the academy, the midfielder broke into the Valladolid B team in the summer of 2014. He played on 37 occasions for the reserves that season, scoring 5 goals.

Villa spent the next season with the B team as well, making 37 appearances and finding the net just once. He did break into the first-team, and made it to the bench in a Copa Del Rey encounter against Real Oviedo, but did not get any minutes.

Ahead of the 2016 campaign, the Spaniard was picked up by Cultural Leonesa on loan for the season and Villa performed very well for his temporary club, scoring 7 times and registering one assist in 45 games, helping the club to win the Segunda Division B, to earn promotion to the Spanish second tier. Villa hasn’t represented the Spain national team at any youth levels.

Style of Play

A central attacking midfielder primarily, Villa can play out on the left flank as well and as an auxiliary forward too. He has also been used in an orthodox central midfield position.

A very good dribbler of the ball, the 22-year old has a box full of tricks and can bamboozle defenders and leave them dead in their tracks with his trickery and speed. Villa is also a very good finisher and possesses that natural eye for a goal.

However, operating in a No.10 role, he needs to add that creative edge to his game that will allow him to create more chances for his teammates. Defensive work rate is another aspect that needs work, if he is to make it big in the English leagues.

What Does the Future Hold?

Leeds have plenty of attacking talent at their disposal already and as the report states, even if they sign Villa, he is likely to be loaned out to Cultural Leonesa. The club enjoys a good relationship with the Spanish outfit, as Leeds board member Ivan Bravo is a director at the Aspire Academy that owns 99% of Cultural Leonesa. This might turn out to be one of the best moves by Christiansen as Villa is surely the one for the future.